Window treatments can be coordinated with kitchen rug

Rugs aren't often associated with kitchens, but they can help take the edge off the hard look of kitchen appliances and flooring.

According to IdeasForHomeDecorating.com, the most important consideration in choosing a rug for the kitchen is its ability to keep up with lots of foot traffic and the spills of liquids and foods that are inevitable in any kitchen.

Kitchen rugs should be easy to clean and in colors that don't show soil readily. Wool is very durable and also cleans more easily than cotton or other fibers used in rugs.

To prevent slippage, kitchen rugs also need underlying padding. The rugs should be heavy without being stiff in order to lay flat without corners turning up.

Some design ideas for using rugs in the kitchen include placing a long runner along a line of kitchen cabinets. In an L or U-shaped room, rugs should be selected to fit a particular section to separate that area from other functions in the kitchen, the website recommends.